Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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727. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update regarding proposed suicide awareness training, which was to be provided to general practitioners; the number of general practitioners who have received this training to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30423/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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General Practice has long been identified as the most frequent first point of contact for people with suicidal thoughts, and international evidence highlights GP training in depression and the management of suicidal behaviour as critical to reducing suicide rates. In 2011, the Irish College of General Practitioners and the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) partnered in the development of a skills-based training programme in suicide prevention for general practitioners.

As at September 2015 some 2,400 General Practitioners and 618 Practice Nurses have access to this online learning module and 500 resource packs have been distributed.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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728. To ask the Minister for Health if he will clarify the current role of the Health Service Executive in counties Louth and Meath in working with suicide awareness and prevention groups; the mechanisms in place to ensure continuity of care for persons referred from general practitioners, or discharged from psychiatric services, who then engage with suicide prevention groups such as Save Our Sons and Daughters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30424/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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729. To ask the Minister for Health if he will clarify if his Department, in conjunction with the National Suicide Prevention Office, meets with local groups which provide suicide awareness and prevention services; his plans to provide ongoing supports to such groups, and to establish formal structures to allow for cohesive services between various bodies involved in these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30425/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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738. To ask the Minister for Health if he is familiar with the services provided by the suicide prevention group Save Our Sons and Daughters; if he will consider providing funding for suicide prevention and bereavement support to this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30473/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 728, 729 and 738 together.

The role of the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) is to oversee the implementation of the present suicide prevention strategy Connecting for Life, and to coordinate suicide prevention initiatives around the country.

NOSP helps to support a wide array of work in communities, in partnership with the voluntary sector, across the country that focus on promoting positive mental health and reducing suicide and self-harm by providing significant grant funding each year as well as by assisting in coordinating and giving strategic direction to the work undertaken.

As the issues raised are service issues these questions have been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a response within 15 working days, please contact my private office and they will follow up the matter with them.